Thousands of Syrians fleeing a fierce battle for the Syrian border town of Tel Abyad between Islamic State (Isis), Kurdish and opposition forces have crossed into Turkey. A Turkish official said that 6,837 people have been admitted since last week.

Turkish military use a water cannon to stop Syrian refugees as they wait behind the border fences to cross into TurkeyOsman Orsal/Reuters

Many of the refugees entering Turkey through a makeshift border crossing are women and children.

Turkish police are helping them through a break in the barbed wire fence.

Turkish soldiers help Syrian refugees as they cross into TurkeyKadir Celikcan/ReutersKadir Celikcan/ReutersKadir Celikcan/Reuters

"There are 2,000 people being processed today," the official said, adding that they undergo registration and health checks before being allowed to enter.

Tel Abyad is a key link between Turkey and the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, the de-facto capital of Isis.

Isis is in control of the border town in Hasaka province. The hardline group last week launched a counter-offensive in the provincial capital, Hasaka city, divided into zones run separately by the government of President Bashar al-Assad and a Kurdish administration.

The Syrian air force has bombed militant posts in a string of villages south of Hasaka, saying it had killed "tens of terrorists and destroyed their vehicles". The US-led coalition also said it has staged air strikes on IS targets in the area.

Syrian refugees carrying their belongings wait for transportation after crossing into TurkeyOsman Orsal/ReutersOsman Orsal/ReutersOsman Orsal/ReutersOsman Orsal/ReutersSyrian refugees wait for transportation after crossing into Turkey from the Syrian town of Tal AbyadAFP

The north-eastern corner of Syria is important because it links areas controlled by IS in Syria and Iraq. Syrian Kurds have also sought to expand their territorial control over a region stretching from Kobani to Qamishli which they see as part of a future Kurdish state.